Friday, November 5, 2010
Changing Seasons, a canvas of color and whirlwinds of life
As the season is changing all around me I've begun to reflect on each gift. The beauty of the changing leaves. The gentle swaying of the trees as their leaves fall in spirals to the ground only to be picked up again and whisked away in all directions. Fragile green blades sprouting in exposed barren pastures. Squirrels storing away walnuts one at a time in an endless parade along the tree branches and wires. Turkey vultures lined up on fallen branches in the early morning sunlight, wings outstretched to gather precious warmth in the chill of the air. Acorns lying on the ground lend way to hints of majestic things to come. Apples golden and crisp begging for spices and the bakers touch. Children's laughter, windblown hair and rosie cheeks tell of games played out of doors. Family, friends, holidays and sharing. Hot chocolate with marshmallows and a warm fuzzy blanket to snuggle under with someone you love. Memories of childhood dreams and chapters in our lives. Promises of things to come as we embrace each day and accept the inevitable concept that change occurs in all things and with that change there is growth and the possibility to create our own canvas of color. Some strokes are deliberate while others are accidental. All are beautiful-
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Piano delivery service.....and more
Where to begin? Amanda, Nicki, Tessa, Hudson and I decided to take a road trip to Utah and Idaho on June 25th. As you all know, that is my most favorite drive....NOT. But the rewards at the end of the drive make it worth it in the end. We drove to Erin and John's house in Logan to visit and stay for a few days. We were so happy to arrive and get out of the car! Amanda drove the entire trip and did an amazing job, probably because she bought a Garmin navigational tool before we left. It was fun to program in the different voices and listen to the various accents. Yep, that is how bored we were! Debbie, Nicki's mom picked her and the kids up and drove them to stay at her house in Bountiful.
The next day we delivered the piano to Megan in Preston, Idaho where she and Allan bought a "fixer upper" house. I think it is a very big undertaking, but one that they will learn a lot about house repairs for the future. Naturally, as you fix up one area you find another issue to repair. Megan and Allan have been spending every extra minute and dollar there since they picked up the keys. New plumbing, wiring, hot water heater, removal of a partial wall, chipping plaster and lathe from walls to replace with drywall, trimming shrubs and removing trees and the list goes on. All very labor intense work causing muscle aches and tired bodies. Amanda and I tried to help as much as we could while we were there too. I wasn't much help because of my congested chest and asthma, but I did get some of it done. Erin and the kids came up to help also. Erin cut branches from trees, and the kids all played in the wading pool together and watched movies on the portable DVD player. We had a yummy hot dog bbq and pizza while we worked.
At Erin's house we spent lots of fun time with the grandkids and family. They are sure growing up fast! Jahnna is such a sweetheart and loves to tell me about everything, especially her fairies. Colby is getting big and has the most beautiful smiles. He thought I was crazy dodging bombs from his model airplane that is hanging in his room and laughed really hard. Riley is quite the talker and maintains a love/hate relationship with Allie. She really didn't like that Grandpa Hoxie didn't come with us to visit her.
We had quite a scare when Riley got into some of Colby's baclofen medicine and had to go to the hospital. We thought they might just pump her stomach, but she needed to be intubated when her gag reflex deminished and she fell into a deep sleep. She was air flighted to Primary Children's Hospital Picu in Salt Lake City. Erin and John followed in the car to stay with her while Megan, Amanda and I stayed with the other kids. At Children's, she was carefully watched and treated until she began to breathe on her own and the tubes could be removed. Riley proceeded to pull her leads off, her blood pressure cuff off and her IV out of her hand! She is a fiesty little one and she wanted down! I think the medication they gave her made her more reactive than normal. After sleeping 18 hours and not knowing what had happened to her, she wanted to go home.
I couldn't leave without seeing Riley and knowing that she was okay, so we left late from Salt Lake for California. Megan stayed until Erin, John, and Riley came home. Riley is fine and will not have any residual damage from the over dose.
Thank goodness for Priesthood blessings and the sisters in the Ward who came to offer their support. Thanks to everyone who offered prayers for the family. Your love was felt and gave us all added strength. I didn't realize how many of our friends and family at home were praying for Riley until I returned to read my facebook comments and ansered so many people's questions about her recovery. Thank You! No one every expects to have a child air flighted to a hospital and certainly not two children in their lifetime. I know that trials are supposed to make us strong in the long run, but they are sure humbling while they are happening. I am sure this is to bring us to our knees and the realization that we are to rely upon Heavenly Father for all things. I am so proud of Erin and John and the way they handle the challenges they are given. I am also proud of Megan and the way she steps in to help her sister in times of need and support. We are a very blessed family and the love for one another runs incredibly deep.
We made it back home, tired but safe. Now, we are experiencing life at the Alameda County Fair for Travis' last year of showing. Life is busy for the Hoxie's.
The next day we delivered the piano to Megan in Preston, Idaho where she and Allan bought a "fixer upper" house. I think it is a very big undertaking, but one that they will learn a lot about house repairs for the future. Naturally, as you fix up one area you find another issue to repair. Megan and Allan have been spending every extra minute and dollar there since they picked up the keys. New plumbing, wiring, hot water heater, removal of a partial wall, chipping plaster and lathe from walls to replace with drywall, trimming shrubs and removing trees and the list goes on. All very labor intense work causing muscle aches and tired bodies. Amanda and I tried to help as much as we could while we were there too. I wasn't much help because of my congested chest and asthma, but I did get some of it done. Erin and the kids came up to help also. Erin cut branches from trees, and the kids all played in the wading pool together and watched movies on the portable DVD player. We had a yummy hot dog bbq and pizza while we worked.
At Erin's house we spent lots of fun time with the grandkids and family. They are sure growing up fast! Jahnna is such a sweetheart and loves to tell me about everything, especially her fairies. Colby is getting big and has the most beautiful smiles. He thought I was crazy dodging bombs from his model airplane that is hanging in his room and laughed really hard. Riley is quite the talker and maintains a love/hate relationship with Allie. She really didn't like that Grandpa Hoxie didn't come with us to visit her.
We had quite a scare when Riley got into some of Colby's baclofen medicine and had to go to the hospital. We thought they might just pump her stomach, but she needed to be intubated when her gag reflex deminished and she fell into a deep sleep. She was air flighted to Primary Children's Hospital Picu in Salt Lake City. Erin and John followed in the car to stay with her while Megan, Amanda and I stayed with the other kids. At Children's, she was carefully watched and treated until she began to breathe on her own and the tubes could be removed. Riley proceeded to pull her leads off, her blood pressure cuff off and her IV out of her hand! She is a fiesty little one and she wanted down! I think the medication they gave her made her more reactive than normal. After sleeping 18 hours and not knowing what had happened to her, she wanted to go home.
I couldn't leave without seeing Riley and knowing that she was okay, so we left late from Salt Lake for California. Megan stayed until Erin, John, and Riley came home. Riley is fine and will not have any residual damage from the over dose.
Thank goodness for Priesthood blessings and the sisters in the Ward who came to offer their support. Thanks to everyone who offered prayers for the family. Your love was felt and gave us all added strength. I didn't realize how many of our friends and family at home were praying for Riley until I returned to read my facebook comments and ansered so many people's questions about her recovery. Thank You! No one every expects to have a child air flighted to a hospital and certainly not two children in their lifetime. I know that trials are supposed to make us strong in the long run, but they are sure humbling while they are happening. I am sure this is to bring us to our knees and the realization that we are to rely upon Heavenly Father for all things. I am so proud of Erin and John and the way they handle the challenges they are given. I am also proud of Megan and the way she steps in to help her sister in times of need and support. We are a very blessed family and the love for one another runs incredibly deep.
We made it back home, tired but safe. Now, we are experiencing life at the Alameda County Fair for Travis' last year of showing. Life is busy for the Hoxie's.
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